Category Archives: Govt

Qatar welcomed more than 2.56 million visitors from January to 25 August 2023, surpassing the total number of visitors for the whole of 2022, marking a 157% increase in the number of international visitors compared to the same period last year. This significant increase in the number of visitors to Qatar reflects the country’s growing position as a leading tourist destination in the world, supported by the success achieved following the successful hosting of the FIFA  World Cup Qatar 2022™, which put Qatar on the international tourism map. The tourism sector has received a boost thanks to the extension of the validity of the Hayya Card to its existing holders and the relaunch of the Haya platform to become a unified visa portal for visitors coming to Qatar, as the country welcomed visitors from all over the world, with visitors from Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, the United States of America, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan topping the list of countries for visitors coming to Qatar. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, President of Qatar Tourism and Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, said: “This growth in international visitors to Qatar is the result of Qatar Tourism’s strategy to capitalise on the tourism momentum that accompanied the hosting of the world’s biggest sporting tournament late last year. Thanks to our focus on priority tourism markets, our multi-pronged approach, our tireless efforts and pioneering initiatives across the pillars of our tourism strategy, we have been able to attract visitors from all over the world and highlight the unique blend that Qatar offers to its visitors, which combines sophistication and modernity on the one hand …

Expo Centre Sharjah has participated in the ICCA Middle East Summit 2023, which took place from August 30-31 at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme “Forging a Collective Path to a Prosperous Future.” During the event, HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry engaged in discussions with several CEO attendees, exploring avenues for strengthening strategic cooperation with association members to further the development and sustainability of the sector, initiate collaborative exhibitions and conferences, and broaden the prospects of the industry. HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, represented the centre in the summit to boost regional collaboration in the exhibitions and conferences sector and explore future opportunities and developments that solidify the sector’s contribution to economic expansion. Al Midfa also introduced a working paper highlighting the significance of the exhibition and conference sector on both regional and global scales. He emphasized its central role in bolstering economies, augmenting commercial activities, and widening the scope of economic and trade collaborations among individuals, businesses, and nations. He underscored that the global exhibition sector’s valuation, surpassing $151 billion, underscores its relevance to the world economy. Meanwhile, in the Middle East and North Africa, the sector’s worth is projected to escalate from $53.63 billion in 2022 to an impressive $76.67 billion by 2028. His Excellency shed light on the exceptional development and growth seen in the exhibitions and conferences sector within the GCC countries, with the UAE standing out notably. …

The third ICCA Middle East Summit – with TravTalk Middle East as media partner – concluded after two days of great insights, updates, and networking opportunities with industry experts from across the globe. The event was inaugurated by H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, with Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA opening the session with an inspiring speech. Khalid Al Zadjali, ICCA Middle East Chapter Chair, radiated excitement as he took on the role of host for the very first time, setting an electrifying tone for the entire summit. There were many sessions which left both experts and audience inspired by the prospect of hosting more business events in various Middle East destinations. Khalid Al Zedjali, Director of Oman Office of Conference at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, stated, “By organizing this event, we aimed at exploring the various means in which the local associations can further improve their operations, strengthen member services and make a more impactful contribution to their industries and communities by leveraging the valuable insights with best practices for international associations. Further, there were also many key areas where local associations can benefit from the experience and expertise of their international counterparts”. Al Zedjali added that it is important for the local associations to maintain the strong bonds with the international networks, to participate in conferences and events and to search proactively for learning and cooperation opportunities with their international peers. By doing so, local associations can improve their performance and create value addition to their members and stakeholders. The event included three different sessions. The first session “Building Resilient Communities” explored the vital role that ICCA (the …

According to Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Khalid University, University of Tabuk, Batterjee Medical College, Prince Mohammed bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, and several renowned international institutions in tourism education, has launched five specialized educational programs for master’s degrees and applied diplomas in the tourism and hospitality sectors. These programs aim to cater to the market demands for skilled professionals in different regions of the Kingdom. The Tourism Education Initiative, initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, aims to align with the increasing need for qualified personnel in the tourism and hospitality industry within the Kingdom. As part of the National Strategy of Tourism Development and the Saudi Vision 2030, the Ministry of Tourism plans to generate one million jobs in diverse tourism sectors by 2030.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival is set to take place from 21 October 2023 to 8 February 2024 as part of the camel mazayna season in Abu Dhabi. The event will be held under the organisation of the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi in cooperation with Emirates Heritage Club. The festival comes as a continuation of the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support heritage preservation projects, promote and develop heritage festivals, enable camel owners to sustain the practice of breeding and caring for camels, and support falconry and purebred Arabian horses contests and other heritage competitions. These efforts have transformed Abu Dhabi into a unique model in the field of heritage festivals organisation. The festival highlights the role of camels in the culture and heritage of the UAE and the GCC countries through camel mazayna competitions held in Abu Dhabi for purebred breeds in the categories of Asayel, Majahim, Asayel hybrids and Wadh. The upcoming edition will include Sweihan mazayna, Razeen mazayna, Madinat Zayed mazayna and the concluding festival: Al Dhafra Festival. The 17th edition of Al Dhafra Festival is the largest since its inception in 2008, with organising committee assigning a total of 361 rounds for all the participating camel breeds – an increase of 35 rounds compared to the previous edition. Al Dhafra Festival aims to unify the standards, terms and conditions, and intensify efforts to achieve success in the mazayna competitions, expand participation of camel owners in the competitions, preserve the purebred camel breeds, boost camel trade, contribute to …

Abu Dhabi has won the bid to host the 63rd International Congress and Convention Association Congress. Taking place from 20-23 October 2024 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the event will reaffirm Abu Dhabi’s position as an international hub for major MICE events. Abu Dhabi’s growing prominence as a preferred destination for global and regional businesses and tourists is evident with the delivery of more than 1,200 MICE events catering to 603,000 visitors throughout 2022 facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. With Abu Dhabi International Airport serving as a hub for over 23 airlines connecting to more than 114 destinations, the emirate ensures convenient travel options for attendees. The International Congress and Convention Association is a knowledge hub and an advocate for the international association meetings industry. Part of its mission is to offer global entities education, connections, tools and resources to help them organise more effective and successful meetings. His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “It is an honour to be able to host the ICCA Congress in Abu Dhabi, which demonstrates the emirate’s growth as a MICE destination. This win has been possible due to the collective support from key stakeholders such as Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre as well as other local and regional partners. Through our commitment to forging strategic partnerships, we have positioned Abu Dhabi as a dynamic hub where businesses prosper and innovation thrives. By offering a wide array of distinct venues, hotels and year-round cultural, leisure and entertainment options, we deliver travel and business …

NEOM announced JLS Yachts has been appointed as a ‘key partner superyacht agency’ for Sindalah, NEOM’s luxury island development. Rising out of the crystalline waters of the Red Sea off Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, Sindalah will define a new dimension of exquisite bespoke travel. Set to open during 2024, Sindalah will be NEOM’s first tourism destination, offering visitors an idyllic luxury lifestyle experience. Sindalah is one of NEOM’s 41 islands, which will be home to a world-leading yachting ecosystem with more than 5,000 berths. NEOM’s partnership with JLS Yachts will support Sindalah’s vision of becoming a global yachting destination, with the island located just 17 hours’ sailing from the Mediterranean. The agency’s office within the island’s marina will provide a comprehensive range of world-class services for the comfort and pleasure of the yachting community, including berthing, provisioning, bunkering, customs clearance, transportation and travel arrangements. The appointment of JLS Yachts as NEOM’s second official yachting partner, follows the June 2023 announcement that Monaco-based BWA Yachting would be establishing an office at the Sindalah marina. Leveraging its service excellence and its established presence in the Arabian Gulf region and Indian Ocean, JLS Yachts will bring its regional expertise to Sindalah as it prepares to welcome the world’s most discerning superyacht clientele during 2024. With a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the Middle Eastern marine environment and an unwavering commitment to going the extra mile for their clients, JLS Yachts has uniquely positioned itself as the ‘one-stop’ agency for all marine requirements, in the process setting a new benchmark of excellence in the Arabian Gulf region. Antoni Vives, Chief Urban Development at NEOM, said, “Sindalah will demonstrate to the world another level …

As the global anticipation for Expo 2023 Doha rises, Qatar Airways announce its role as the official strategic partner for the landmark event. Set to be the first A1 International Horticultural Exhibition in Qatar, the Middle East, and North Africa, the prestigious partnership underscores Qatar Airways’ commitment to bringing global attention to Expo 2023 Doha and promoting Qatar as a premier travel destination.  Expo 2023 Doha, which is expected to attract an estimated 3 million visitors from around the globe, will take place in the picturesque Al Bidda Park, overlooking the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf. The six-month event will run from October 2023 to March 2024 and will offer visitors rich experiences, from beautiful gardens and thought-provoking talks, to arts and cuisine, as well as a focus on innovative solutions to mitigate desertification. To celebrate the partnership, adorned with the Expo 2023 Doha emblem, an exclusive aircraft livery is set to be unveiled by Qatar Airways in the coming month. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The upcoming months promise an array of cultural, environmental, and innovative experiences in Qatar for visitors from around the globe. As the Official Strategic Partner for Expo 2023 Doha, we look forward to welcoming international guests to Qatar, offering them our signature hospitality and connecting them to this monumental event.” Travellers onboard Qatar Airways will also be treated to an unforgettable experience that starts with a horticultural welcome video and continues throughout their inflight journey, providing them with celebratory artwork and exclusive healthy dining options, which will be rolled-out across both Premium and Economy Cabins on select routes. Discover Qatar, the Destination Management Company of Qatar …

According to Bahrain News Agency, HE Fatima Jaffar Al Sairafi Minister of Tourism Bahrain, shared, “the growth indicators achieved by the tourism sector over the past two years have exceeded the targets set in Bahrain’s tourism strategy 2022-2026.” She made the statement as she attended a work meeting which was held yesterday at the Exhibition World Bahrain to discuss the progress in implementing the tourism strategy 2022-2026, which is part of the economic recovery plan. The meeting was attended by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Chairman Sameer Nasser, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nasser Qaidi. HE Al Sairafi stressed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnership with all government agencies, representatives of the private sector, and tourism sector establishments, in implementing the strategy. “The success of this national strategy depends on the cooperation of all government and private institutions, given the importance of the tourism sector in creating opportunities, providing jobs and diversifying the sources of income and supporting Bahrain’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), she said. She outlined pathways for implementing the tourism strategy, noting that the ministry and the authority are working with various stakeholders from the public and private sectors concerned with the tourism sector. She indicated the strategy includes four core pillars – “destinations”, enhancing Bahrain’s standing as a leading regional and international tourist destination through developing marine and sports tourism, revamping beaches, recreational facilities, infrastructure and cultural facilities, and organizing more events. The strategy also focuses on developing the airline network and facilitating visas and port procedures (arrival), extensive promotional campaigns at the regional and international level (marketing), and through increasing the …

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of Dubai has announced a new entry permit for residents of GCC countries travelling to Dubai. The service is available for travellers who have a valid residency of any of the GCC states for at least a year, have no travel restrictions from entering the country, and their work and residency cards need to include the profession. “This service has been activated to issue a prior online entry permit for travellers residing in the GCC countries in order to ensure a smooth entry process into the UAE and streamline procedures,” said a GDRFA notification. The process to apply on GDRFA website are: * Log in to the smart services through (UAE Pass or username), * Select the service. * Fill in the application. * Attach documents * Pay the fees (AED250 plus Vat of 5%)   The documents required are: * The original passport, * Upon arrival, presenting the original residence permit issued by a GCC country. * A civil or labour card. The entry permits are likely to be issued within 48 hours, said the GDRFA website.